Diablo Predator tuning?

[Rich Z]

Greg and Tom, are you guys familiar with using the handheld Predator for tuning? Yeah, I know it's not nearly as comprehensive as HPtuners or EFIlive, but I'm using this to get my feet wet and maybe step up sometime later on. So I'm looking for some pointers.

Last weekend the wife and I took a drive and Connie was monitoring live data on the box. LTFTs were jumping around quite a bit, but seemed most often to be sitting at +4.67. So when we got back home, I changed the injector slope to -4. Now the average seems to be real close to 0.00 on the LTFTs, maybe dipping down to -2.00 every once in a while. From what I have read, this is supposed to be where I want it.

So what's next? I'm not logging any knock retart counts anywhere, but I haven't really done any WOT runs at all.

Can you give me some pointers?

Thanks.

[FRC Tom]

Not familiar with any of the hand helds.
But sounds like you got the trims in the right place.

What else can you change with the unit?
COT, spark, torque management, etc.

[Rich Z]

Well, here's a list of the options that I can change the parameters on in the Predator:

• Spark
• Power Enrichment
• Injector Slope
• COT
• OBD-II EGR
• OBD-II AIR
• OBD-II O2 Sensor
• CAGS
• Torque Management
• Idle RPM
• Actual Wheel Size
• Rev Limit
• Cooling Fans
• Axle Ratio

What does "COT" stand for?

Since I have a manual transmission, does the Torque Management really do anything? I thought that was strictly for automatic transmissions.

I had a custom tune done by Diablo based on my mods and then afterwards modified the injector slope some to get where I am now. Not getting any knock retard hits, but I did get a random misfire error code about a week or so ago.

Right now I am getting some intermittent error codes (P0112 & P1112) having to do with the intake air temperature, but I don't think they have anything to do with the tune. Any ideas on what could be causing those errors? This is only the second time I have seen them.

So what do you think my next step should be? I have those E3 plugs in, which I have heard will allow the timing to be advanced more then regular plugs, but not sure of the validity of that claim. Car feels pretty strong, but I don't have anything else to compare it against. Well maybe my Jeep Wrangler, but I don't think that counts...

Thanks.

[Anti Venom]

COT is cat over temp. it is an enrichment used to save the cats from melting down during a calculated overtemp condition. Use your own judgement for turning this off. My personal car is turned off. Random cats here, turned off for 2 years now. Your ltft's look good right now. Somewhere between 0 and -4 is optimum. Now it is time to monitor your knock counts, and adjust timing accordingly. Your air temp codes could be coming from a possible contamination condition. I.E. air filter oil getting on the sensor. Try to clean the MAF/air temp sensor with electrical contact cleaner.

[Rich Z]

So is the procedure to keep advancing timing until you DO start to get retard knock counts? More advance is better up until that point? At what RPM range would I be most likely to see the counts if I have the advance TOO far?

What about the Power Enrichment settings? Are they something I should take a look at as well? I take it from you recommendations that slightly lean is better then slightly rich with the AFR?

Thanks for the tip on the error codes. It may be just what you are saying PLUS maybe the MAF just being dirty. The guy I got this car from apparently didn't know what he was doing and tried the wirewrap air cleaner mod. I believe he left something off, because there were openings BELOW the filter allowing outside air to bypass the filter completely. When I replaced the throttle body with my Shaner S3, the old TB was absolutely filthy. Since I found that kluge that guy did, I have been getting the oil changed every time I take it to the shop for ANYTHING, hoping to clean out any gunk that may have gotten into the engine through the air cleaner.

Oh, and about the torque management thing, is that really only for automatics like I am thinking? Seems kind of odd that I see this displayed on my Predator when I tell it I have a manual transmission.....

Thanks for you help.

[Rich Z]

Well I hooked up the Predator earlier today and took a look at some things. Even though I specifically select for MANUAL transmission, yes there is an option to change the Torque Management. There was an option for something like "abuse control" so I just turned that OFF. Then I looked at the COT setting. On the predator there isn't a simple on/off switch, there is a sliding scale to select a temperature point. Mine was set at 85* C., which seemed kind of low to me for a catalytic converter. So I upped it to something like 285*C. Does this sound right? Or should I have just upped it all the way to the max setting?

Spark appears to be selectable for three ranges. I didn't jot down notes on the actual ranges, but from what I can recall, I can adjust for idle to about 1500 rpm, 2000 to 4000 rpm WOT, and 4000 to 6000 rpm WOT. I didn't play with those at all, just took a look. Any tips on what to do with those settings?

Power Enrichment looked like it had the same range selections as for Spark, but again, I didn't do anything with them at this time. I'd rather know a little bit more about what I am doing rather then doing "hunt and peck" tuning. I can't see me talking to my wife and saying something like "Hey Sweetie, remember that working engine I used to have in the vette?......."

Thanks.